French President Francois Hollande has increased protection of the country’s Jewish schools, sending out almost 5,000 police officers since last week’s attack. This is in addition to the 10,000 troops that have been deployed to boost the country's security.

It was no coincidence that as the report emerged that a senior American had called Benjamin Netanyahu a "chickenshit", the first member of the prime minister's cabinet to leap to his defence was the man often portrayed as his main rival.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorised the construction of more than 1,000 houses in East Jerusalem, beyond the Green Line.

Around 660 homes will be built in Ramat Shlomo, with 400 more slated for construction in Har Homa. If the process goes ahead, it will end an unofficial freeze on settlement building which was enacted in May last year.